WEBVTT REPORTING LIVE, KELLY BRENNAN, PITTSBURGH'S ACTION NEWS 4. WE HAVE A HOARDING CONDITION, WHICH IS NOT. GOOD. SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN. FIREFIGHTERS FOUND THAT INSIDE A HOME OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN WHO DIED IN A FIRE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. TONIGHT THE FIRE MARSHAL TELLS US THEY SEE HOARDING CONDITIONS IN 2 OUT OF EVERY 10 FIRE CALLS. BOFTA YIMAM EXPLAINS HOW HOARDING IMPACTS FIREFIGHTERS ON THE JOB. Reporter: FIGHTING FIRES IS ALREADY A TOUGH JOB. IMAGINE CARRYING 80 POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT ON YOUR BACK AS A FIREFIGHTER GOING UP THROUGH HILLS, SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE THROUGH SMOKE AND WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, HOARDING CONDITIONS. WE WALKED IN AND WE WERE ON TOP OF A DEBRIS FIELD THE HEIGHT OF A STANDARD KITCHEN CABINET. Reporter: THEY FOUND HOARDING CONDITIONS AT THIS HOME WHILE FIGHTING A BLAZE. A WOMAN DIED INSIDE, HER BODY FOUND FEET FROM THE DOOR ON CHRISTMAS DAY. HE SAYS SHE OWNED THE HOME SINCE THE 1970s. IT WASN'T TRASH OR ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. Reporter: 40 INCHES OF STUFF BEHIND THE DOOR AND THAT CAN LEAD TO A PILE OF PROBLEMS FOR FIREFIGHTERS. YOU HAVE STUFF ALL OVER THE GROUND SO YOUR BALANCE ISN'T 100%. IT CAN THROW YOU OFF BALANCE AND THROW YOU INTO OTHER STUFF, HAVE STUFF FALL ON TOP OF YOU. Reporter: HE SAYS HOARDING HAS CAUSED FIREFIGHTER INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN LEGS, MUSCLE TEARS AND EVEN FIREFIGHTER DEATHS. FLOOR COLLAPSES BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA WEIGHT, FIRE BURNS MORE RAPID BECAUSE THERE'S MORE FUEL THERE. Reporter: HE SAYS HOARDERS MAY NOT REALIZE THE SICKNESS COULD HURT THEIR CHANCE OF RESCUE, ESPECIALLY IN SERIOUS MEDICAL CALLS. IT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE OF LIVING AND DYING. Reporter: HOARDING DID NOT LEAD TO THIS DEATH. SHE WAS LOOKING FOR HER LABRADOR AND DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS STRUCTURE, FIREFIGHTERS COULD NOT SEARCH UPSTAIRS FOR THE DOG. THE FIRE MARSHAL EXPECTS THIS HOME TO BE TORN DOWN NEXT WEEK AFTER THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE SITE.